Early Childhood Education / Family Programmes
Buller REAP has a team of community based early childhood educators, living in communities across the Buller. This service is for families with children under 5, providing support for playgroups, the “Let’s get Talking” programme, (by referral in the Westport area only), for 4 yr olds before they start school, music programme, play gym, and advocating for quality rural early childhood education and parent support.
| COMMUNITIES |
EDUCATOR/CONTACT |
PHONE |
| ECE - TEAM LEADER |
Sylvia James |
789 9755 |
| WESTPORT |
Cathy Moynihan |
789 6017 |
| WAIMANGAROA |
Carey Shepherd |
789 8554 |
| NORTHERN BULLER |
Jillian Stowell
Carey Shepherd 789 8554 |
782 1818
|
| KARAMEA |
Candy Smith |
782 6006 |
| MARUIA |
Kristi Wierer-de Bois |
523 9693 |
| REEFTON |
Gail Haydon |
732 8398 |
| IKAMATUA |
Programme suspended |
|
| MURCHISON |
moira Siobhan |
523 9268 |
REAP CONTACT: SYLVIA JAMES – sylvia@bullerreap.co.nz, ph 789 7659
Let's Get talking
Transition to School Programme
Programme overview
The oral language programme was developed as the result of a needs assessment conducted in 1991 with the caregivers of pre-schoolers, new entrant teachers and primary school staff in the Buller R.E.A.P region.
Let’s Get Talking provided by Buller R.E.A.P is available to four year old children in the Buller region. The group can consist of two to six children at any time and is supervised by a trained E.C.E. (Early Childhood Educator). The programme is held eight times per term, four terms a year.
All Let’s Get Talking programmes are planned to meet the individual needs of participating children which will ensure that they have the necessary skills to enable them to enter the new entrant room with confidence.
Children enrolled in the programme will be:
- Encouraged to separate comfortably from Parent/Whanau/Caregivers
- Offered a range of child centred learning activities which meet individual needs
- Guided to work in co-operative groups and develop social skills
- Become aware of health and safety practices
- Given the opportunity to express themselves verbally and artistically
- Given the opportunity to engage in activities which extend and enhance physical skills
- Responded to in positive and caring ways by E.C.E conducting their programme
The programme is tailored to meet the dynamics of the group and the individual needs and interests of attending children.
The programme is funded by the Ministry of Education and is provided at no cost to Parents/Whanau/Caregivers.
Parent/Whanau/Caregiver Support
Parent/Whanau/Caregivers will be involved in the Let’s Get Talking programme by.
- Sharing with the E.C.E their unique, personal knowledge of their child’s skills, abilities and needs
- Taking an interest in their child’s progress
- Ensuring that their child attends regularly and is punctual
- Providing healthy food/snacks for their child
- Providing a change of clothes and clothes suitable for the season e.g. sunhat, warm jacket etc.
- Providing materials for activity/projects which may be undertaken during the programme e.g old Christmas/birthday cards, magazine pictures, card board, material, knitting wool
- Accompanying children on any planned excursions
- Supporting any E.C.E working in isolation
The interest and well being of the children at any Buller R.E.A.P Let’s Get Talking programme is the first and primary concern. Staff will ensure that all children, and their parents/whanau/caregivers feel welcome informed and included by:
- Ensuring all interaction with parent/whanau/caregivers and children is positive
- Parents/whanau/caregivers will be kept informed of update and changes to the programme by personal or telephone contact
- Policies and procedure information is made available on enrolment and whenever requested.
- A copy of the policies and procedures manual will be held by the E.C.E.
Attendance is recorded along with health and safety checklist
B 4 School Checks
Has your child turned 4? Time to book in for a health check. 0800 724 325
(This replaces the old health nurse check) .
This is a new health initiative which will replace the check that traditionally happened for every 5 year old when they started school.
The best aspect of this new way of doing things is that the parents /whanau /caregiver is part of the check and this is undertaken (ideally) when the child first turns four so that any challenges that may hinder a Child’s smooth transition into school life are addressed well before the school start date, with parents fully informed.
These checks are replacing the vision and hearing checks usually undertaken in the Early Childhood Education environments. This is the only opportunity for preschool hearing and vision checks.
On the coast our coordinator is Lorraine Williams and available free phone 0800SCHECK or 0800 724 325 or your Early Childhood Educator will have pamphlets to book in your four year old.
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